Alejandro Pérez*

Partner | Employment, Labor, and Benefits

About

In his labor and employment practice, Alejandro defends employers of all sizes against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, wrongful termination, unfair labor practice charges, and other claims arising out of the employment relationship. He also represents employers in disputes involving misappropriation of trade secrets, and breaches restrictive covenants, non-compete agreements, and other contractually-based claims.

  • Additionally, Alejandro assists employers in resolving administrative matters before various state and federal government agencies. Alejandro also advises and defends clients in various industries on matters involving disability access under Title III of the ADA.

    Alejandro relishes learning his clients’ businesses and works closely with them to create HR policies and best practices that minimize risk, increase employee job satisfaction, and support diversity and inclusion. Prior to attending law school, Alejandro worked in human resources. Alejandro leverages his pre-law experience to deliver practical advice to local, national and international employers on an array of difficult HR issues, including hiring, background screening, drug testing, equal pay, terminations, downsizing, trade secret/anti-piracy concerns, non-compete and unfair competition, discipline, accommodations, leave, wage and hour issues, and workplace violence prevention.

    Alejandro conducts sensitive corporate, workplace, and ethics investigations; employment practices and compliance audits; and represents companies in dealing with governmental and agency investigations. Alejandro regularly advises clients on how pending legislation and administrative rules will impact his clients and their workforces, and has experience in governmental relations. He has also assisted client with international employment law issues and assisting employers with employment and labor issues that arise during mergers and acquisitions.

    Additionally, Alejandro travels around the country speaking and training employers and workforces on a myriad of cutting-edge employment law and labor relation topics, diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ+ workplace issues, the creation of respectful workplace norms, and leadership development. Alejandro enjoys assisting his clients and others demystifying the most complex employment laws and developments.

    A native Spanish speaker, Alejandro’s clients greatly benefit from his ability to communicate fluently with their Spanish-speaking workforces, and accurately draft and translate key employment documents, policies and communications. Alejandro has also assisted his client sin bridge language and cultural boundaries.

    Alejandro also engages in a versatile range of litigation matters, including defamation, fraud, commercial litigation, and professional liability. He also helps individuals, businesses, and organizations navigate an array of issues of board governance, professional licensure, professional and organizational liability, and constitutional law.

    In addition to his law practice, Alejandro is committed to mentorship of minority and first-generation attorneys. He also serve as Board President to the ACLU-Arizona. Alejandro is also an active member of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

    Prior to beginning his practice, Alejandro served as a law clerk to the Honorable Patricia A. Orozco (Ret.) on the Arizona Court of Appeals (Division One).


Practices

  • Appellate

  • Arbitration and Mediation

  • Cannabis, Hemp & CBD

  • Civil Pretrial and Trial Services

  • Class Action Defense

  • Commercial Litigation

  • Education

  • Employment and Labor

  • Intellectual Property Litigation

  • International Disputes

  • Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

  • Litigation and Risk Management

  • Professional and Management Liability

  • Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants

  • White Collar Defense & Investigations

Admissions

  • Arizona

  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

  • *Not licensed in Texas


Education

  • J.D., Phoenix School of Law, 2013

  • B.A., University of the Incarnate Word, 2010


Professional Activities

  • Regional President, Hispanic National Bar Association

  • SHRM Phoenix

  • National Employment Law Council, Los Abogados


Community Involvement

  • ACLU of Arizona (Board President, FY 2024; General Counsel, FY 2023, board member 2022-present)

  • Los Abogados Foundation (board member, 2022-present)

  • Phoenix Pride (Board Secretary, 2022; board member 2019-2023)

  • Xico Arte y Cultura (Board Chair, 2015-2018; board member, 2013-2018)

  • Hispanic Leadership Institute, Class of 2013

  • Hispanic National Bar Association (active member, 2011-present; former Regional Deputy Present, 2013-2021)

  • American Bar Association (2010-present)


Recognition

  • Best Lawyers Ones to Watch – Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024)

  • Super Lawyers Rising Star (2016-present)

Experience

  • Ogletree Deakins

  • Jackson Lewis

  • Jones, Skelton, & Hochuli

Speaking Engagements

  • What to Expect in 2024: Important Legal Updates, Central Arizona Human Resource Management, March 2024

  • Produced and wrote content for Work Matters, a labor and employment law blog and podcast from 2017-2021

  • Cultivating and Encouraging an Authentic Workplace, State Bar of Arizona, September 2023; Prescott Area Human Resources Association, August 2022; SHRM, January 2022

  • I-9 Compliance and the Remote Workforce, BASIC, November 2022

  • Employment Practices & Liabilities, Cold Chain Institute West, February 2022


Publications

  • Supreme Court Rules FAA Requires Courts to Grant Stay Requests After Compelling Arbitration, Ogletree Deakins Blog post

  • Groundhog Day: Recurring Workplace Issues, Ogletree Deakins Multistate Employment Blog, February 2024

  • Pay Transparency and Equal Pay Act: An Update and Best Practices, Ogletree Deakins Managing a Workforce, September 2023

  • Discrimination/Disparate Impact Issues Faced by Employers Striving to Diversity the Workplace, BASIC, June 2021

  • Making Sense of it All: Employment, the Law and COVID, InBusiness Magazine February 2021 issue

  • I-9 Audits Compliance and Impacts of COVID-19, BASIC, December 2020

  • Blowing the Whistle: What Employers Should Know About Whistleblower Claims, InBusiness Magazine, August 2020 issue

  • Don’t Get Ill Over Paid Sick Time, InBusiness Magazine, March 2020 issue

  • Why U-Haul’s New Nicotine Hiring Policy is Legal—But Potentially Not Practical, KJZZ/NPR 91.5, January 2020

  • Cutting Through the Weed(s): The Impact of the Legalization of Marijuana in the Workplace, InBusiness Magazine, November 2019 issue